The scheme of Literal Prophecy considered; in a View of the Controversy, Occasioned by a late Book, intitled, A Discourse of the Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion. .
London.
[s.n.], 1727.
Second edition.
xvi, 460pp. Pages 47, 272 and 240 misnumbered 74, 274 and 238 respectively. ESTC T124168
[Bound with:] [PEMBERTON, J.] Books lately printed for J. Pemberton, at the Golden Buck against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet. [London?], [s.n.], [1726?]. [16]pp. ESTC T80554.
8vo. Contemporary blind-panelled calf, contrasting gilt-tooled red morocco lettering-piece. Very lightly rubbed and marked. Endpapers and title page browned, otherwise internally clean and crisp.
[Bound with:] [PEMBERTON, J.] Books lately printed for J. Pemberton, at the Golden Buck against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet. [London?], [s.n.], [1726?]. [16]pp. ESTC T80554.
8vo. Contemporary blind-panelled calf, contrasting gilt-tooled red morocco lettering-piece. Very lightly rubbed and marked. Endpapers and title page browned, otherwise internally clean and crisp.
The second edition of a philosophical refutation - defending an earlier work - by Anthony Collins (1676-1729), English natural philosopher and, according to Voltaire, proponent of Deism.
The Scheme of Literal Prophecy Considered sees Collins writing in support of one of his previous arguments, 1724's A Discourse of the Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion, deeply controversial for its attacks on the prophecies of the Old Testament, and subsequent scepticism of the truth of Christianity. Collins rejected Christianity's establishment as a 'revealed religion', dismissing any proof from miracles, and arguing that there was no evidence that the New Testament's foundation on the Old Testament, or Christianity's foundation on Judaism, was reasonably coherent. In the introduction, Collins establishes the volume's intent to respond to Edward Chandler's (1666-1750) A Defence of Christianity, describing himself, tongue-in-cheek, as 'in the notions and secret of the Author of the Discourse of the Grounds'.
The presence of the separately issued catalogue in this volume suggests J. Pemberton may have been involved with the first work’s issue in some way. Undoubtedly produced to promote the 54 other works mentioned, including his folio third edition of the works of John Locke, the catalogue itself is rare, ESTC records copies at just four locations (BL, NLW, and Oxford).
Provenance: recently dispersed from the Sandys family library at Ombersley Court, Worcestershire.
£ 625.00
Antiquates Ref: 33231
The Scheme of Literal Prophecy Considered sees Collins writing in support of one of his previous arguments, 1724's A Discourse of the Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion, deeply controversial for its attacks on the prophecies of the Old Testament, and subsequent scepticism of the truth of Christianity. Collins rejected Christianity's establishment as a 'revealed religion', dismissing any proof from miracles, and arguing that there was no evidence that the New Testament's foundation on the Old Testament, or Christianity's foundation on Judaism, was reasonably coherent. In the introduction, Collins establishes the volume's intent to respond to Edward Chandler's (1666-1750) A Defence of Christianity, describing himself, tongue-in-cheek, as 'in the notions and secret of the Author of the Discourse of the Grounds'.
The presence of the separately issued catalogue in this volume suggests J. Pemberton may have been involved with the first work’s issue in some way. Undoubtedly produced to promote the 54 other works mentioned, including his folio third edition of the works of John Locke, the catalogue itself is rare, ESTC records copies at just four locations (BL, NLW, and Oxford).
Provenance: recently dispersed from the Sandys family library at Ombersley Court, Worcestershire.
